Sex tourism

Sex tourism is the practice of traveling to foreign countries, often in the Global South, with the intention of engaging in paid sexual activity or relationships. The World Tourism Organization of the United Nations has acknowledged that this industry is organized both within and outside the structured laws and networks created by them.

Sex tourism is commonly regarded as a transnational challenge, as it can be seen to target marginalised demographics in developing nations, such as countries in the Americas or Southeast Asia. The chief ethical concerns arise from: the economic gap between sex solicitor and sex worker, the sexual trafficking of victims, potential exploitation of minors, and the sex solicitor taking advantage of the ease with which they may engage with sex workers. These groups and individuals are subject to the foreign prostitution laws of the destination's jurisdiction, often resulting in exploitation and abuse. Prostitution involving minors is formally illegal in all countries. However, in practice, enforcement varies, and child prostitution occurs freely in some regions due to systemic issues such as corruption or inadequate legal protections.

Sex tourism is known to be a multibillion-dollar industry, with service industries such as the airline, taxi, restaurant and hotel industries profiting. The bulk of sex tourism involves men traveling from countries in the Global North to countries in the Global South, such as in East and Southeast Asia and Latin America. Although rarer, female sex tourism also exists.